Canada’s National Arts Centre YOUNG ARTISTS PROGRAM with PINCHAS ZUKERMAN accepting applications!

January 8, 2013 at 9:52 PM

Canada’s National Arts Centre Young Artists Program, directed by PINCHAS ZUKERMAN is now accepting applications for June 2013. DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 4, 2013.

This internationally recognized program draws 70 of the world’s best young musicians to study for three weeks in Ottawa, Canada, June 6 – 27, 2013. Exceptionally talented violinists and violists accepted to the YAP Senior level will have private instruction with Mr. Zukerman and his teaching colleagues Patty Kopec and Grigory Kalinovsky.

The YAP is an exciting, intense program filled with private lessons and a chamber music component of rehearsals and coaching led by a team of prominent chamber music coaches.

Paul Casey, viola has been involved in the YAP the past two summers. He was interviewed as part of a NAC blog series about his experience in the program. Here’s an excerpt:

“AW: You were invited to participate in the 2011 Summer Music Institute* (SMI) Young Artist Program (YAP) as part of an additional ensemble. What was the best part about your experience with SMI?

PC: Having the opportunity to work with all the amazing coaches was so great! Each one of them approached the music from a different angle, so we really saw the pieces from so many different aspects. Since I was in about 4 groups, I had so many opportunities to perform, which is so rare in summer festivals. Also, the musicians that were in my ensembles were pretty wonderful (and super talented), and I still keep in touch with all of them. The cellist who was in my ensemble is actually now my girlfriend; we met at YAP. We always joke that someone over at the NAC is playing matchmaker for us.

AW: If you were to pass on any advice for upcoming participants, or recall one of the best pieces of advice that was given to you during SMI what would it be?

PC: The best piece of advice I heard while I was attending SMI was from Steve Dann, one of the viola coaches. He said that when working with an ensemble, especially short-term at a summer music festival like the Young Artist Program, it is so easy to fall into the trap of disagreeing and arguing with each other about musical choices. He said the best way to approach this is to “just say yes” to a colleague’s musical suggestion. Playing it will often prove him/her to be right or wrong, and it can save so much precious rehearsal time! I think it is important to not only come prepared, to know your music before you go, but it is also so important to approach the process with an open mind and willingness to try things that you maybe think are not such a great idea at the time.”

FOR FULL INFORMATION ON THE NAC YOUNG ARTISTS PROGRAM AND TO APPLY ONLINE GO TO:http://nac-cna.ca/en/summermusicinstitute/youngartists

For the full interview with Paul, see the link below.http://nac-cna.ca/en/stories/story/getting-to-know-you-an-interview-with-paul-casey